House fire in NY kills 2, including baby; 6 hurt

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — A fast-moving fire engulfed a three-story home in early Thursday, leaving a 64-year-old woman and a 4-month-old baby dead and three residents hospitalized. Three others injured in the blaze were treated and released.

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner said Margaret Settles and baby Marvon Gunn died in the fire that broke out around 3:30 a.m. at a home on the city's south side. Miner said at an afternoon news conference that 38-year-old Shantique Settles and 3-year-old Shamir Tape are in critical condition at Upstate University Hospital. Travis Agnew also remains hospitalized.

Miner said 21-year-old Lashantee Spencer, 17-year-old Shaquashia Spencer and 8-year-old Tayonna Dunbar were treated and released. She said all the residents are related. A ninth person was not home at the time of the fire, she said.

"We have had a really gut-wrenching day here in Syracuse," Miner said.

She said the fire began in the kitchen in the rear of the house on the first floor. The cause remains under investigation, but fire officials said it doesn't appear suspicious.

Fire officials said the house was an older style built with balloon-frame construction, which has vertical spaces inside the walls that allow fire to spread rapidly upward.

There were smoke detectors in the house, but fire officials said it's unclear if they were working. No code violations found.